Hugh Scott Hester

REIDSVILLE:     Hugh Scott Hester,born March 26th 1934 died peacefully in his sleep at his lake home with the beauty of nature surrounding him early morning on Sunday May 11th 2008. The memorial services will be held at Main Street United Methodist Church in Reidsville North Carolina at 3:00 pm on Thursday, May 15, 2008. Family will be greeting friends beginning at 1:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.   Interment will immediately follow at Greenview Cemetery. There will be a gathering at the family residence, 802 South Main Street following interment. Hugh Scott Hester was the grandson of Hugh Reid Scott and Flossie Brewer Scott and the son of Dr. William Shepherd and Cecilia Scott Hester of Reidsville, NC. He graduated from Reidsville High School, received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from UNC Chapel Hill, studied at the University of Edinborough in Scotland and received his Juris Doctor from The College of William and Mary.   He was admitted   before the Bars of The Commonwealth of Virginia and The State of North Carolina and practiced law for over 40 years. Hugh Scott was an active member of Main Street United Methodist Church in Reidsville, NC for over 50 Years. attending several conferences as well as holding offices of Bard and Steward.   He also sang in the choir, lending his beautiful bari-tenor voice for over 35 of those years, soloing often. In the last few years he also attended services at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro where his companion Pat Neill is a member. He was a dedicated and active member of the Rotary Club of Reidsville maintaining perfect attendance for over 37 years.   He represented the Reidsville chapter at five International Conventions and was a gregarious ambassador from North Carolina to Rotary Clubs all over the world.   He lived his life by the "4 Way Test". Hugh Scott loved traveling and during his world adventures visited five continents, all fifty states, and all Northwest Territories and Canadian Provinces.   He usually traveled alone and without an itinerary so that he would be able to take advantage of any opportunities that should arise.   He climbed Mt Fuji, in Japan, visited Machu Picchu in Peru and also climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.   He also lived in Anchorage, Alaska for two years as he loved the outdoors and the beauty the state had to offer.   He would often sit in desolate locals on his own personal vision quest for hours waiting for the salmon to swim by.   He was active in the Boy Scouts of America both as a youth and an adult leader.   While a member of Troop 48, he attained the rank of "Eagle Scout" (Scouting's Highest Honor) and was elected into the "Order of the Arrow" (Scouting's National Honor Society).   As a leader he held the office of Assistant Scoutmaster at two troops.   He also earned his "Wood Badge" beads as a member of the Beaver Patrol. He attended and held leadership positions at many National and International Jamborees.   A lifelong registered Democrat, he was active in local, state and national politics where he participated in several Democratic National Conventions and attended five Presidential and five Gubernatorial inaugurations.   He was married and divorced twice, but the last 15 years were spent with his companion Ms. Pat Neill of Greensboro, NC with whom he found complete happiness as a friend and partner. She traveled to many foreign and domestic destinations with him and they each cherished their journeys together. He was a Charter Member of the St. Andrews Society of North Carolina and held office of "Chieftain" of Clan Scott Society of North Carolina, was a member of Pi Alpha Delta National Law Fraternity, The Carolina Club and was an original member of the Duke's of Gloucester, a barbershop group in Williamsburg, Virginia.   While attending UNC Chapel Hill, he participated in four sports, was a member of the Men's Honor Council, Old Well Marshall, Dialectic Society and Vice-President of The Wesley Foundation.  He was President of UNC Concert and Marching Bands as well as leader of the Pep Band and Men's Glee Club.   Hugh Scott was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving aboard the carrier ship USS Franklin Delano Roosevelt where he was granted "Top Secret" clearance and worked in the legal office. As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed big and small game hunting; fly fishing, as well as fresh and salt-water fishing, SCUBA Diving and Parasailing.   A lifelong athlete, he participated in team and individual sports in high school and college and completed a 'mini' Triathlon when he turned 50, completing the bicycling part on a single speed cruiser. His life was brought to an early end by advanced prostate Cancer that he battled for nearly three years while receiving the best care available at Duke Cancer Center in Durham, NC.   He embraced the natural end and refused hospitalization and although other friends and family visited and gave support, his youngest son, Scotty, stayed with him every night until the very end acting as primary care giver. Scotty's tender compassion and dedication was unwavering. Hugh Scott's final days were spent at his beloved lake house in his own bed, where he passed away quietly in his sleep sometime early Sunday morning.   He is survived by his companion, Ms. Pat Neill of Greensboro, NC, his brother, John Nicholas Hester, III of Richmond, VA, and his children:   William Shepherd Hester, II of Greensboro, NC, Elisabeth Scott Daley (Hester) of Williamsburg, VA and Hugh Scott Hester, II of Greensboro, NC. He is also survived by three grand children from William Shepherd Hester and Linda Miller Hester. Julian Scott Hester, Jeremy Daniel Hester and Joshua Charles Hester. Memorial Contributions can be made to Main St. United Methodist Church C/O Hugh Scott Hester Memorial Fund, 221 S. Main St. Reidsville, NC 27320 , The Reidsville Rotary Club, Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 178, Reidsville, NC 27323, or Cub Scout Pack 230 "Hugh Scott Hester Memorial Scholarship Fund" c/o Irving Park United Methodist Church, 1510 W. Cone Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27408 Wilkerson Funeral Home is assisting the family and condolences should be mailed to Hester Family, P.O.Box 14173, Greensboro, NC 27415